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Sheinbaum Calls National Debate on Regulating the ‘Infinite Scroll’ and School Phone Use

The president asked the education ministry to consult parents as she frames transparency and youth wellbeing as the goals for any limits on algorithms and devices.

Overview

  • President Claudia Sheinbaum proposed opening a national debate about regulating continuous‑scroll features and recommendation algorithms during her morning conference on Tuesday, saying heavy use of platforms can harm young people’s mental health.
  • Sheinbaum asked Secretary of Public Education Mario Delgado to run consultations with mothers and fathers to gather views on cellphones, social media and artificial intelligence in schools before proposing specific rules.
  • The president stressed the initiative is meant to protect wellbeing and increase platform transparency, not to restrict freedom of expression or enact censorship.
  • Sheinbaum cited Brazil’s recent digital rules and a papal encyclical on AI as reference points while officials said possible measures under discussion include algorithmic transparency requirements and limiting cellphone use in primary schools, though no draft law has been presented.
  • Officials and cited research link heavy social media use to anxiety, sleep disruption and social problems for children and teens, and Sheinbaum warned that AI tools are starting to replace traditional emotional support for some young people.